Moulin-à-Vent, Château des Jacques

Purchased by Louis Jadot in 1996, this is one of the most prestigious properties in the Crus Beaujolais. The vineyard, comprising some 27 hectares, makes a very traditional, long-living style of wine, a portion of which is oak-matured. A superb element of our Beaujolais range. The 2004 vintage was Highly Recommended in Decanter Magazine in July 2007 in a review of Top 10 Summer Reds: ‘Here’s a Beaujolais worthy of respect. Of course at this price it should be - but it’s exceptionally impressive. Gamay has never tasted quite as interesting as it does here.’ Sarah Jane Evans MW.

Awards

COMMENDED (2013) International Wine Challenge 2016

About Château des Jacques

The wines of Beaujolais were once as expensive and as renowned as those from its now more famous northern neighbours of the Côte de Beaune and Côte de Nuits. Due to a combination of factors including both World Wars and the extensive production of Beaujolais Nouveau, this reputation was lost. Louis Jadot has always been passionate about the untapped potential of the region and in 1996 purchased Château des Jacques with the aim to restore the quality and reputation of the wines of this region.

All the Gamay grapes for the ‘cru’ Beaujolais, such as Fleurie, Morgon or Moulin-à-Vent, are treated with the same care, attention and vinification methods as the Pinot Noir of the Côte d’Or. Unusually for Beaujolais, Chateau des Jacques includes about nine hectares of Chardonnay, the Clos de Loyse, which is vinified here and aged, like all wines, under the estate label – a single vineyard Chardonnay from Beaujolais (featured in the Louis Jadot White Burgundy section).

In 1998 Louis Jadot opened their Combe aux Jacques winery with the sole intention of making this wine. The key difference from many other Beaujolais Villages wines is that Louis Jadot include grapes from the ‘crus’ of Beaujolais such as Regnié which adds to the quality, creating a fuller, fruitier wine.

Ethical production

Guillaume de Castelnau has the important role of managing Château des Jacques and doubles as its winemaker, living above the winery in the château shown on the label. His passionate belief in the ‘spirit of the terroir’ is reflected in his very natural approach to winemaking: he is an avid supporter of organic and biodynamic practices.